Apparatus for tipping and discharging railway cars



Nov. 25, 1930. B. E. ELLSON 1,732,503

APPARATUS FOR TIPPING AND DISCHARGING RAILWAY CARS Filed April 29 1929 1J i r l .ELLLAEPIII BMETE'ZZGOIZ Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT FFE APPARATUS FOR TIPPIN G AND DISCHARGING RAILWAY CARSApplication filed April 29, 1929. Serial No. 359,118.

This invention relates to an apparatus whereby railway cars are tiltedsideways sufficicntly to invert the car and discharge the contentsthereof, and whereby the car may be raised if desired to a requiredheight before the said tilting occurs.

The invention has for its object to provide improvements in the type ofapparatus as described in my patent specification No.

U 1,703,766, to the effect that improved means of easily and securelysupporting the car during the tilting operation are provided togetherwith an improved arrangement of hoisting ropes, improved means forquickly entering and removing the car from the apparatus, and means fortranslating the car to a desired point of discharge.

According to the invention, apparatus is provided of the type asdescribed in patent specification No. 1,703,766, wherein the trans versebar engaging; with the top of the car is mounted to roll. or slide in adirection to and from the transverse bar engaging with the side of thecar. The hoisting cables supporting the our platform are arranged toclear each side of the wagon and after passing over pulleys on thecradle leave the cradle from one common centre or set of pulleys passingthence over movable jockey pulleys to the source of power. At one end ofthe platform the cables are attached to fixed points thereon whilst atthe other end of the platform the cables are carried continuously aroundpulleys mounted on the platform. The transverse bar enging the side ofthe car may be either a rigid fixture to the cradle or alternatively thesaid transverse bar may be attached to pivoted beams the lower ends ofwhich are arranged to engage during tilting with the side of theplatform. The cradle with its corresponding rolling path, source ofpower and other essential parts may be mounted upon a carriage to runalong a gantry.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatusshowing a car in full lines ready for hoisting and a car in dotted linesin two other working positions;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the cradle only, the car being omitted;

Figure 3 is a plan of the top of the cradle showing the mounting of therolling or sliding transverse bar which engages with the top of the car;

Figure 4 is a side ele 'ation of the far end of the platform remote fromthe end shown in Figure 1 showing the different method of arranging thecables at that end;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the cradle cnd piece showing analternative method of supporting the side of the car and also theplatform during tilting; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the cradle end piece showing analternative method of limiting the forward movement of the cradle.

Hereinafter the transverse bar which engages with the top of the car andthe transverse bar which engages with the side of the car will. becalled, respectively, the top transverse bar and the side transversebar.

1 indicates conventionally a frame or gantry on which the tiltingaparatus is mounted. The rolling path along which the cradle works orrolls is shown at 2 and may be horizontal or inclined and fitted withpins 3, rollers, or other equivalent fitments to locate accurately thecradle whilst rolling. 4 indicates a cradle comprising end pieces 5 withelongated arms 9 extending over the car and having a suitable number ofconnecting bars 6 and 6*. A side transverse bar 13 is connected acrossthe two end pieces 5. The cradle may be built up of any required shapeand braced in any desired manner to provide the mountings for thepulleys, transverse bars, and other essential fittings. Each end piececomprises a body portion which is rounded on one edge to form a rockingsurface 7 which may be provided with notches 8 adapted to co-opcratewith the pins in in Figure 1. It will be seen that if the plattheoperation of tilting a car. The size and form were fitted at all fourcorners with shape of the rounded rock ng sin-fare T will pinned endsonly and should the lengths of be determined by design to suit therequirements of dilfercnt cases, as for instance. the required finalposition and incl'nation lo the horizontal of the inverted car as shownin dotted lines at C. 12 is the top trarsvcrse bar and is mounted withbars 15 and rollers 16 running on cross pieces 17 fixed between theconnecting bars (3 and 6 to the effect that the transverse bar 12 andcar are free to move in a direction to and from the transverse bar 13thus allowing the s de of the car to engage with the transverse bar 13and be supported thereby during tilting. It will be seen that as the caris hoisted up from the track into the position B in the cradle, the sideof the car passes by the transverse bar 13 and that a safe clearancedistance is required accordingly. This clearance distance must be closedup during tilting and the mounting of the top transverse bar 12 onrollers 16 provides an ample range of side movement for effecting this.

The cradle is limited in its forward movement by a tie rod 14 pivoted atone end to the cradle at 20 and with an adjustable stop 21 at the otherend. The tie rod slides through the pivoted block 22 during: the tiltingof the cradle. An alternative method of limiting the forward movement ofthe cradle is shown in Figure 6 in which a stop 23 fixed in the endpiece of the cradle butts up against a r gid projecting arm 24.

The railway car 18 to be tilted and dumped is run onto a platform 19which is centred to be in line with the track by ways 19*. The platformhas extensions 25 to engage with the guides 26 which steady the platformduring hoisting. The lower part of each piece of the cradle is extendedand shaped at 27 to form a continuation of the guides 26 so that theplatform extension 25 engages with the lower part 27 of the end pieceduring t lting and dumping of the car. The platform is hoisted by cablesattached to a source of power such as a winch 28. Referring to the oneend of the platform as shown in Figure 1. a cable or cables are attachedto the platform at one corner by a pinned end 30. thence being carr edup and over the cradle pulley 31 and the jockey pulley to the winch 28whilst another cable or cables 33 are attached to the platform at theother corner by a pinned end 34. thence being: carried up and over thecradle pulleys and 31 and jockey pulley 32 to the winch 28. Referring tothe other end of the platform as shown in Figure el, the cable or cablessupporting the platform are carried continuously from corner to corneraround conipcnsating pulleys and 37 fixed to the pl alform and thence upto the cradle pulleys. jockey pulley, and winch similarly shown cablehauled in by the winch be different for the various cables owing tocommon working errors in the apparatus. then one or more of the cableswould run slack and the remainder be overloaded. The provision ofpulleys 8(3 and 37 placed at one end only of the platform compensatesfor such working errors and ensures all cables remaining in propertension dur ng hoisting and tilting. All cables are purposely arrangedto leave the cradle as shown at one common centre or set of pulleys 31as the distance between the cradle pulleys 3i and jockey pulleys Variesduring tilting and it will be seen that such variation must be the samefor all cables. In the drawing; the cables are shown conventionally onlyand may, of course, be duplicated or rearranged as required for purposesof strength or in case of working.

The jockey pulley 32 is mounted upon a rocking arm 38 which may beoperated by any suitable means and by way of example a screw 39 with anut inside the gear wheel 40 is shown. By operating arm 38 the set ofcables attached to one end of the platform will be moved to tilt theplatform and cause the car to run off therefrom by gravity. The jockeypulley 32 with its fitmonts may be placed on one side only or on bothsides of the cradle.

In operation, a car is run on the platform, as shown in full lines atposition A in Figure 1, then by applying power the car is elevated tothe position shown in dotted lines at B in Figure 1, the platformextensions 25 sliding up the guides 26 and onto the cradle bottomextensions 27. Continued pull on the cables rocks the cradle along therolling path. whilst also the car and transverse bar 12 mo ve sidewaysupon the rollers 16 until the side of the car engages with thetransverse bar 13. The car is thus held upon the top by transverse bar12, upon the side by transverse bar 13, and upon the bottom by theplatform. and the car is thus securely held and rotated into theposition C shown in dotted lines. After the load is discharged, themotion is reversed and the cradle rolls back to its original normalposition and the platform and car are lowered down to the track. hen theplatform has arrived at track level or just previous thereto. the armoperated to tilt the platform and cause the car to run olf therefrom.

If it desired to remove the car from the platform at some intermediatelevel above track level. as for example as shown in :lottcd lines at Din Figure 1. the platform is ten porarily stopped at or near thisintermediate level D and the arm 38 operated as aforesaid to run. thewagon off.

Referring to Figure 1, and in particular to position C of the wagon, itwill be seen that during tilting the weight of the platform is largelytaken upon the car wheels and littings and in certain positions producesa side strain as shown by the arrow E upon the car wheel. and axleboxes. If so desired this strain may be largely or completely eliminatedby the use of the arrangement shown in Figure 13 is the side transversebar attached to the upper ends of compensating beams -11 the lower endsof which are arranged to engage during tilting with the side of platform19. The said beams are pivoted to a suitable part of the cradle, forinstance to a specially provided connecting bar 6. The provision ofthese compensating beams free to rock about pivots ensures the positiveengagement of the car side and platform side with their respectivesupports during tilting whilst also by correctly po, tioning the pivots42 the weight of the wagon may be made so to balance the weight of theplatform as to take all undue side strain from off the car wheels.

It will be seen that the hoisting and tipping arrangements are of such anature that the cradle. winch and other essential parts may readily bemounted upon a carriage 4%? arranged to run along tracks 44 upon theframe or gantry 1. By this means the car may be hoisted. into theposition B remaining there Whilst the carriage moves along the gantry toany desired position thereon where the cradle may then be rocked todischarge the car in a manner as hereinhefore described.

What I claim is 1. In a car tipping apparatus, a. frame, a cradlemounted for rocking); on the frame from a position to receive the car inan up-- right relation to a position to invert the car for dumpingpurposes, and means carried by and bodily movable with respect to thecradle for engaging with the top of the car, whereby to permit bodilymovement of the car with respect to the cradle in the initiation of thecradle-rocking movement.

2. In a car tipping apparatus, a frame, a cradle mounted for rocking onthe frame from a position to receive the car in an up right relation toa position to invert the car for dumping purposes, a ba carried by thecradle for engaging the top of the car, and means for supporting the barfrom the cradle to permit bodily movement of the bar transverse thecradle.

3. In a car tipping apparatus. a frame, a cradle rockahle thereon from acar receiving position to a car dumping position. platform on which thecar is initially p a ed. and supporting means connected to therespective ends of the platform and operable for elevating the platform,the supporting means for one end of the platform being capable ofoperation independently of the supporting means for the other end of theplatform to thereby tilt the platform to insure the gravital movement ofthe car from the platform.

4. In a car tipping apparatus, a frame, a cradle rockablc thereon from acar receiving position to a. car dumping position, a platform on whichthe car is initially placed, cables connected to the respective ends ofthe platform and leading over a common center on the cradle, means foroperating the cables to elevate the platform, and means for operatingthe cables at one end of the platform independently of the cables at theopposite end to thereby tilt the platform for gravital discharge of thecar.

5. In a car tipping apparatus, a supporting frame. a cradle rochablethereon from a car receiving position to a car dumping position, a carreceiving platform, means for moving the car platform into cooperationwith the cradle to secure the car between the platform and cradle, meansproviding for independent lateral movement of the car in that movementof the cradle teiuling to dump the car, and means carried by the cradleto limit the lateral movement of the car.

6. In a car tipping apparatus, a supporting frame, a cradle rockablethereon from a car receiving position to a car dumping position, a carreceiv ng platform, means for moving the car platfo m into cooperationwith the cradle to secure the car between the platform and cradle, meansproviding for independent lateral movement of the car in that movementof the cradle tending to dump the car, beams pivotally supported on thecradle, a bar carried by said beams in position to be engaged by theside of the car during the lat cral movement of the car, and a. barcarried by said beams to he engaged by the platform to compensate forthe side strain on the running gear of the car during the dumpingoperation.

7. In a car tipping apparatus, a supporting frame. a cradle rockablethereon from a car-receiving position to a candumping position, acar-receiving platform, means for moving the platform toward the cradle,said frame guiding the platform in the move ment of the platformtowari'l and from the cradle, said cradle having a part to serve as anextension of the frame for guiding the platform beyond the frame andduring the final movement of the platform relative to the cradle.

8. In a car tipping apparatus. a frame, a cradle roclzable relativethereto from a carreceiving position to :1 ca ralumping position, aplatform to receive a. car to be dumped, means for moving the platformtoward and from the cradle, a member carried by the cradle and bodilymovable laterally thereof, said member forming an upper clamp for thecar following elevation of the platform, whereby the ear is held betweenthe platform and said member against independent vertical movement Whilecapable of lateral movement, and a lateral stop for the cmto limit thelateral movement of the ear, said stop being carried by the cradle andextended to resist lateral movement of the platform simultaneously withits stop function for the lateral movement of the car.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my nam e BERNARD EDMUNDELLSON.

